European policy of the Angela Merkel's administration 2005-2010. Comparison of the european policies of the "big coalition" 2005-09 and the conservative-liberal coalition 2009-10

The bachelor thesis deals with the European politics of the Federal Republic of Germany during the government of the Angela Merkel's cabinets. The thesis is focusing on the time period from 2005 to winter 2010/2011. This period can be split into two parts: 1) the government of the big coalition of the "Union" parties (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) and 2) the current conservative-liberal coalition of CDU/CSU and the Liberals (FDP). The aim of the thesis is to compare both the cabinets concerning on their priorities in chosen areas of the European politics, as well as the particular steps taken. Several case studies show that the European politics of the Angela Merkel's big coalition can be evaluated as considerably pro-integration and cooperative. The Chancellor improved the Germany's relationship to the middle- and eastern European countries and significantly contributed to the discussion of the new European reform treaty. This resulted into a stronger position of Germany in Europe. The government period of the conservative-liberal coalition is connected with the ending world economic and financial crisis and the economic problems of several member states of the Euro zone. The analysis of this period confirms the hypothesis that facing this situation, the European politics of the..